PLANS for an additional £1.5m to develop a Nottingham sports park have met a positive response from people living nearby.
As revealed in yesterday's Post, Harvey Hadden Sports Park is putting in a bid for cash from Sport England to further improve facilities.
Ideas include a 1,500m cycle track, upgraded football pitches, three squash courts and a wildlife pond.
The £1.5m would be in addition to a secured £13.5m from Nottingham City Council, with work set to begin in September.
Members of the public are being consulted for the next four weeks about how they would like to see the potential windfall spent.
The Post visited Birchover Road Community Centre, in Bilborough, which was staging a Health Awareness Day yesterday, to ask residents what they thought of the plans.
Childminder Donna Owuso, 49, of Brindley Road, Bilborough, said she was pleased the council was asking local people what they thought and made some suggestions of her own.
She said: "It's a really, really good idea. I like the ideas they have for the complex, like the outdoor gym and the wildlife centre.
"I would like to see some childcare facilities there. Lack of them does stop people from going. Because I'm a childminder it would make a lot of difference to me. I'd like to see a bit more for the under-fives as well."
Full-time mum, Kayleigh Stanley, 26, of Honinton Road, Broxtowe, also said she was glad the council was taking the time to get residents' views together. She said: "That's better; they're asking what we think rather than just develop on the site. It's better that they're getting public opinion.
"I like the idea of the cycle track.
"My garden's not big enough to teach my kids and the street is too dangerous."
"The facilities we have at the park near my house aren't good enough either."
Nottingham City Council neighbourhood development manager Julianne Christou, said the council wanted to make sure the new complex was built to suit the community's needs.
She said: "We don't want the building to be empty, with no one using it. The more we listen to local people, the more investment local people will have in these projects."
The consultation continues until Saturday, August 24.
Information and forms can be found at Beechdale Swimming Centre and Bilborough Library.
Contribute views online at www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/transformation.
